For our 20th Anniversary Celebration we asked our artist to contribute a ‘WOW’ painting or object that illustrated where they are today in their career. Kaminer, a five year veteran of our gallery, created this one of kind dish that harkens to her southern roots and continues a theme that she has represented in her jewelry collection– the Gorget series as well as the Palmetto series.

Palmetto Dish
Sterling Silver
12 inches long x 3 inches wide x 0.5 inch high

“South Carolina is known as the “Palmetto State” not only for the abundance of Sabal Palmetto trees, the state tree, that are ample along the coast, but also for the important role the tree played in the American Revolution. Palmetto logs and sand were used by American Patriots to build a fort on Sullivan’s Island to protect Charleston in anticipation of a British attack. On June 28, 1776, the British military attacked the Patriot fort from the sea, but they were unsuccessful due to the cannon balls sinking into the spongy fibrous palmetto logs and sand. The American victory that day over the British at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island was a turning point in the war and led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Conceptually I have continued that theme of the strength and fortitude of the palmetto tree in this silver dish and the design visually references palmetto fronds. The radiating shapes were pierced by hand to echo the way light breaks through palmetto leaves. The dish has a gentle curving contour and is supported by a small oval foot underneath, which provides stability and slight elevation. Both the interior and exterior have a high shine, mirror finish.”